Energy Transitions Commission

We have just published our latest briefing note: NDCs, NCQG, and Financing the Transition: Unlocking Flows for a Net-Zero Future.    “Climate finance“ will be a key subject at COP29, with debate in particular on the proposed “New Collective Quantified Goal“ (NCQG) for financial flows from high-income to low-income countries. But the term “climate finance“ is often used vaguely and broadly, covering several different challenges and priorities.    The ETC’s latest briefing note clarifies the nature and scale of different types of finance required, proposes four principles to ensure a useful conclusion of the NCQG debate and explains the vital role that updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can and must play in unleashing financial flows.    Download the full analysis:  https://lnkd.in/eY4ANWeR

Looking for something to listen to as the year winds down? 🎧 Catch up on this episode of 🎙Redefining Energy: “Resilience or Irrelevance?” Ahead of this year’s COP29, ETC Chair Adair Turner discussed an overview of the climate negotiations with Gerard Reid and Laurent Segalen Get the context behind what shaped the events of COP29 — catch this insightful episode for key highlights and background: https://lnkd.in/eqrb9xiq

Earlier this year, the ETC published our Insights Briefing, Overcoming Turbulence in the Offshore Wind Sector, highlighting the need for governments and the offshore wind industry to join forces and restore confidence in the market, drive down costs and accelerate the clean energy transition. The briefing reinforced #offshorewind’s crucial role for the clean energy transition. The renewable energy source can generate electricity when the sun isn't shining and doesn't compete for land use. International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates suggest offshore wind has the potential to generate more than 420,000 TWh per year worldwide, 14 times todays global electricity generation. However, most countries are not on track to install sufficient offshore wind capacity by 2030 to align with a net-zero emission trajectory. Now is a critical period to rapidly accelerate wind capacity if the world is to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. Watch ETC Chair Adair Turner explain the significance of offshore wind to global decarbonisation efforts: https://lnkd.in/e8Q5nD3X Read the full Insights Briefing on the sector here: https://lnkd.in/e4UettAy

In April, ETC Director Ita Kettleborough took the stage at the Ambição 2030 Forum in Brazil, hosted by United Nations Global Compact and AYA Earth Partners. The two-day event was rich with discussions on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, featuring panels on sustainable food systems, circular economy, urban mobility, regenerative cities, and the energy transition. Ita shared insights on shaping Brazil’s energy transition and the ETC’s global mid-century vision—centered on an affordable, wind- and solar-dominated electricity system capable of near-total decarbonisation, even in heavy industry. With Brazil set to host COP30 in 2025, its energy outlook takes on even greater significance. The country’s transition highlights the significant role of biomass, alongside net-zero projections that depend on negative emissions from its AFOLU sector. While biofuels are widely embraced as a key pathway, Brazil’s abundant solar and wind resources offer immense potential to accelerate its transition. More recently, Brazil updated its NDCs, committing to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 59–67% before 2035 (compared to 2005 levels)—a step forward on its climate journey. As the host of COP30, Brazil can showcase its leadership by translating ambition into action and leveraging its vast renewable energy potential to lead the way toward a net-zero future. 

This year the ETC released a six-part video series on how to reach net-zero by mid-century via massive, clean electrification, representing the cheapest and most efficient way to decarbonise the global economy.  We have identified six critical actions for the 2020s that will enable that necessary scale up in electricity deployment: -Clear and binding targets  -Incentives for clean electrification  -Building the infrastructure and skills required   -Appropriate planning & permitting  -Unlocking financial flows  -Developing technology and business models The first action is for countries to set clear, quantitative targets aimed at electrifying their economies (e.g., electric vehicle sales) and decarbonisation of their power systems (e.g., wind and solar capacity). This should also include targets for the phase-out of fossil technologies (e.g., bans on internal combustion engine vehicles). 📺 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eSa-wj2u

With a new European Commission and the next legislative term taking us to 2030, now is the time for Member States to play a key role in ensuring EU law is implemented and to focus on policy areas that are lagging due to political or technical complexity.  Although policies like the EU ETS, REPowerEU, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) have driven significant progress, challenges remain in securing necessary funding, managing supply chains, and phasing out fossil fuels. The ETC therefore offers the following recommendations to shape the next five-year agenda of the European Commission. 1. Hold the ground: Avoid reversing previously policies to send clear market signals that will encourage investment and maintain momentum around the energy transition. 2. Complete the picture: Expand policy focus to areas beyond the power sector to ensure emissions reductions is achieved across all sectors. 3. Realise competitive advantage: Align industrial policy with environmental goals to ensure European companies can compete in the global marketplace.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/gH-AD4QX 

The Winter 2024 issue of ETC Matters is here! Our quarterly newsletter brings you the latest insights and updates from the Energy Transitions Commission – subscribe or follow to stay informed.   In this edition we: ⚡ reflect on key takeaways from #COP29; 💡 feature an interview with Laurence Tubiana, CEO European Climate Foundation 🤝 welcome new ETC members Ausgrid; 🧠 introduce 3 new publications: NDCs, NCQG, and Financing the Transition; Critical Raw Material Supply Chains in EU; and Solidifying the EU’s leadership in the global energy transition. 🌐 describe what would be in an ideal country climate plan (#NDC); 🌍 spotlight The Transition Accelerator/ L’Accélérateur de transition's new report: what could household energy costs look like in a net-zero future?  🌆 and get to know Hannah Audino, our Buildings Decarbonisation Lead, in an exclusive interview!

The EU has made remarkable progress in its energy transition to date, achieving significant decarbonisation milestones. For instance, in 2023, emissions were nearly 16% lower than in the previous year, bringing total emissions down 43% compared to 1990 levels. While current EU policies are likely to see an acceleration of progress, this drop in emissions has largely been driven by efficiency gains (e.g., in vehicle fuel standards, appliances) and investments in low-carbon power generation. More must therefore be done to continue to grow clean electricity and accelerate emissions reductions in industry, buildings and transport.  Achieving future decarbonisation in the EU will require a significant increase in funding. In fact, total low-carbon finance in the EU must nearly double to meet climate targets. The European Commission should work to address this investment gap and continue the EU’s positive emissions reductions trajectory.  Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gH-AD4QX 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗧𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 (𝗖𝗥𝗠) 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆. Systemiq Ltd.'s latest report, supported by Breakthrough Energy and the ETC with data and expert input from Minviro and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, "𝗔 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘄 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆-𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻", 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗨 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗖𝗥𝗠 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: 🔑 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 to leapfrog traditional processes with lower environmental impacts 💰 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝗮-𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 at commercial scale 📈 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 to stabilise prices for domestically produced materials ⚙️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 to fast-track high-impact projects 🌍 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 with targeted trade measures, while supporting innovation in partner countries To advance its energy transition, the EU must support rapid industrialisation of innovative processes and establish clear market signals to facilitate offtake agreements. Without these measures, creating a robust local supply chain will remain out of reach. The report highlights essential steps to bolster resource independence and sustainable industrial growth. ▶️ 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: https://lnkd.in/etrfvx8K #CleanEnergyTransition #RawMaterials #Innovation #Europe

The EU has made impressive strides in the energy transition, but can it sustain this momentum? Our latest blog post explores key policies that have helped drive decarbonisation in the EU to date, the challenges ahead on the global transition journey, and offers strategic recommendations for the new European Commission's green agenda in its five-year term ahead. Read about how Europe can maintain its leadership and competitiveness in the global clean energy race. This blog builds on a related ETC Whitepaper which was published today, that was drafted in consultation with Sandrine Dixson-Declève and subset of ETC members including (but not limited to) Iberdrola, Octopus Energy, European Climate Foundation, Impax Asset Management, and Rothschild & Co. #EnergyTransition #EU #EUClimateAction #CleanEnergy